Multiplex telegraphy



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. J. PATTEN. M'ULTIPLEX TELEGRAPHY.

N0. 429,735. Patented June 10, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANCIS JARVIS PATTEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO J. M. SEYMOUR, OF BRICK CHURCH, NE; JERSEY.

MULTIPLEX TELEG RAPHY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,735, dated June 10, 1890.

Application filed January 10, 1890. gerial No. 336,579. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS JARVIS PAT- TEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements in lVIultiplex-Telegraph Sys tems, of which the following is a description.

My present invention relates to a broad and general system of synchronous multiplex telegraphy connecting a large number of central points in a general system of multiplex communication with each other and is an elaboration of the special systems upon which I have taken former patents and filed applications for others. My former patents, Nos. 392,930 and 392,967, show the general synchronizing system used in all these, and this synchronizing system is used in the general system of multiplex telegraphy here described.

Figure 1 is a general plan of the system I have invented for connecting a large number of points. Fig. 2 shows a number of polarized relays or vibratorsconnected in a singleline circuit in such a way that all vibrate synchronously throughout an extended line indiflerently of the number under properconditions. These polarized relays drive electric motors at these distant points in the general manner explained in the above-mentioned Patent No. 392,967, which represents the general synchronizing system. These motors drive rotating trailer-arms, which sweep over segmental distributer-tables, as shown in Fig. 3, connecting the same-numbered instrument at different stations simultaneously to line, and so permitting multiplex transmission between all, providing the trailers move in synchronism, as contemplated. Fig. 4 shows a detail of arrangement in which a single such motor with a long spindle carries many superposed trailer-armsthat sweep over as many separate superposed tables, each connecting through its trailer to a different one of a number of communicating line-wires that converge at a single point from a number of dilfereutly-located distant ones.

Referringnow to Fig. l,which is aplan of such a general system asm y invention contcm plates, dii't'erent central points are shown located at suitable distances from some central pointas, say, Cincinnati, indicated by At this point is placed a revolving pole-changer, which constantly reverses a synchronizing line-current for a long independent synchronizing line that runs through many distant points. This independent synchronizing line is indicated dotted in the figure. From Cincinnati it goes to St. Louis, to Omaha, to Indianapolis, to Chicago, to Detroit, to Columbus, to Buffalo, to Albany, to Boston, to New York, to Philadelphia, to Washington, to Pittsburg, and then back to Cincinnati. It is not asserted that in practice so large a general system would be comprised in one circuit; but with very high tension, induced synchronizing currents and properly-constructed polarized synchronizing relays, and a copper wire such a circuit is far from impossible, and is given simply as an illustration. At each of these points is a synchronizing polarized relay, which may drive one or any number of electric motors at each point, and all will be in synchronism with each other. These motors drive trailer-arms that sweep over circular tables of insulated segments all in synchronism with each other. The synchronizing line is designed to maintain all these motors in perfect synchronism through the agency of the polarized relays in the synchronizing circuit. If the motors can be maintained thus in synchronism, as supposed, through the agency of the general synchronizing line and necessary devices, then the points so connected in a general system can be reconnected in any way desired by another set of communicating lines that can be run in any direction between any two points on the synchronizing circuit not too distant, and all such lines will then be available for multiplex telegraphy on the system I have described and bear no relation to the general synchronizing circuit, except that at the two extremities of any communicating line there are always machines in electric unison with each other.

In the diagram Fig. 1 the dotted line is the general synchronizing circuit, and the full lines are the telegraphic or communicating lines connecting all the points on the synchroi'iizing. line in various directions. At many points a number of communicating lines converge. At such points there will be as many distributors as separate lines and separate trailers driven all by one motor, as shown in Fig. l, or bya number of motors, as may be described. The general system con sists, therefore, in connecting a number of distant points by a single independent synchronizing line passing through all points with which multiplex communication over a single line-wire is desired and connecting these points in any desired manner by a separate net-work of communicating or telegraph lines, thus enabling multiplex telegraphic communication to be carried on between a large number of distant points, at all of which electric motors are maintained in synchronisin through the agency of a single independent synchronizing circuit.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A system of synchronous multiplex telegraphy consisting of a single main line, including an alternating source of electricity and all of a series of synchronizing relays, in combination with a series of independent signaling-lines connecting independent pairs of stations, a pair of distributers and electric motors for each signaling-line, with independent multiplex sets of signaling and receiving apparatus for each signaling-line, and electrical connections between the synchronizing relays and pairs of distributors, whereby synchronism is maintained and signals may he sent, substantially as described.

2. A synchronous multiplex d istributer consisting of a trailer-shaft carrying two or more independent distributer arms or trailers, each resting on an independent set of main-line (listributing-segments connected to separate main lines, substantially as described.

A synchronous multiplex distributor having two or more trailers, each resting on an independent set of mainline distributingsegments located in different vertical planes and independent main-line connections with each of said sets of segments, substantially as described.

FRANCIS JARVIS lA'lTEN.

Witnesses:

C. J. KINTNER, A. V. IIINEY. 

